Yukon River, Km. 401

Yukon Crossing

Winter travel from Dawson City to Whitehorse was initially along the frozen Yukon River. Increased traffic led to the replacement of the traditional dogsled with horses but travel on the ice was hazardous. The building of the Overland Trail in 1902 shortened the trip by 160 km. The wagon road crossed the Yukon River at MacKay's Roadhouse, using either horse-drawn sleighs or ferries. "McKay's Crossing" eventually became Yukon Crossing.